General White Dwarf Feedback Thread

[ted1138]

I'd like to see them use the magazine to clear up rules queries/interpretations/uses. They could explain how a rule works, and use photographs to illustrate it clearly. Then, a month or so later, post the article on the web site for everyone to see.

[Iron Puritan]

I'd like to see them use the magazine to clear up rules queries/interpretations/uses. They could explain how a rule works, and use photographs to illustrate it clearly. Then, a month or so later, post the article on the web site for everyone to see.

I disagree about the timing. Staggering the releases of official errata, FAQ, rules clarifications and such could lead to disputes over rules. Realistically there should be only one widely available platform for errata and FAQs: their website.

Illustrations for rules clarifications is a good idea. Anything that helps players keep things on the up and up would be welcome.

[ted1138]

I disagree about the timing. Staggering the releases of official errata, FAQ, rules clarifications and such could lead to disputes over rules. Realistically there should be only one widely available platform for errata and FAQs: their website.

Illustrations for rules clarifications is a good idea. Anything that helps players keep things on the up and up would be welcome.

What I described would already be FAQ'd(I'm not suggesting an alternative to that), what I'm talking about is making them easier to understand, by giving examples, and illustrating them. It seems bizarre they show such basic paint guides, yet don't show basic rules guides...

[Iron Puritan]

Demonstrations of different rules in WD would be helpful. They could even integrate them into articles on tactics.

[Daniel36]

They could do a ton. They should too.

I will say this. I bought the May edition of WD a couple of weeks ago, and it was full of fun stuff. I really liked it.
I bought it for the colour schemes of the Knightly Orders that use Demigryphs, which I thought was cool. I was surprised to find a REALLY cool Storm of Magic scenario that my friend and I are planning for now, and while I don't care for 40K, the fact that they showed a Necron army that wasn't 'Eavy Metal, but from one of the WD guys, was really cool too.

All in all, excellent mag.

Then I bought a value pack with some 2011 numbers... I think it took me 3 minutes to get through all three... Terrible.
But the May 2012 edition was awesome.

[Magot]

I am not pleased with the WD at all (stopped my subscription), let me take WD393 as an example why:

page 0 and 1: a 2 page wide photo, nice advertisement but nothing to do with Good Wargaming or Hobby. And also to see on the internet.
page 2: index, ok
page 3: advertisement
page 4: advertisement
page 5: advertisement
page 6: advertisement, will also appear on Internet I presume
page 7: advertisement, will also appear on Internet I presume
page 8: advertisement, will also appear on Internet I presume
page 9: advertisement, will also appear on Internet I presume
page 10: advertisement
page 11: advertisement
page 12/13: advertisement double paged photo
page 14/15: advertisement double paged photo
page 16: advertisement
page 17: advertisement
page 18: advertisement
page 19: advertisement
page 20: advertisement
page 21: advertisement
page 22-27: Well let´s say, these pages are a trailer on paper, it is kind of o.k. but it is written for kiddo´s of 12-15, there is no real in depth information why the Dark Vengeance is what it is. No interview with the designers. The style of writing this text reminds me of McDonald or KFC, or maby Pizza Hut. And Oh yes, the What´s New today provides more and better info. For instance that the models only need to be put together in a pre-designed way. (good for the younger hobbyist for whom this box is ment)
But the positive thing is: nice photo´s
page 28: advertisement
page 29: advertisement
page 30-35: 6 pages of which 1 is an advertisement being an extract from the BL novel. But for the rest, let´s say that I have seen better articles which tie the novel and the table top game together. It is a good advertorial for Black Library, I must admit that.
page 36 - 39 Eavy Metal, nice pics but not even a fraction of the quality as used to be for 5-6 years ago. But they can´t make these articles interesting, GW is not going to be his own concurrent for the "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures" So dear hobbyists don´t expect any nice painting articles in the WD anymore !
page 40: photo unnecessary full page.
page 41-63 a series of most wurst battle reports ever !!
Again, nice teasers for the youngsters but the serious hobbyist will have a quick look over the photo´s and that´s it.
page 60-65: Advertisement
page 66-71: show you the reason why good hobby articles will never return in the WD, you need to buy the scenery and these pages provide the (bougth by yourself) cataloguefor you to pick out the next one you will buy.
page 72-73 aaaahhhhh. a full 2 paged photo, where do have seen that before.... ??
page 74-81: what shall I say? more photo´s of the same models in different colors. hmmm what the heck, its only 7 pages..
page 82-83: Advertisement
page 84-87: Armies on Parade, that´s always nice, to see what your colleague hobbyist are doing, Nice 3 pages.
page 88-89: Hall of Fame, I reckon that the sales of Lizardmen went down a little bit. But to learn that the model is "bedecked with jewelery and golden tablet carved with ancient symbols of power" was a stunning experience, .... whooww.
page 90-91: Gamesday Golden Demon, Nice 2 pages with superb painting examples.
page 92-93: Standard Bearer, Again Jervis is able NOT to tell what the Studio People have done the last month.
page 94-95: full 2 paged photo of which I must say: I like it! and a nice mini interview with Phil Stutcinskas
page 96-97: full 2 paged Catalog photo
page 98-99: full 2 paged Catalog photo
page 100-101: full 2 paged Catalog photo
page 102-103: Advertisement
page 104-105: Advertisement
page 106-107: this is nice for the youngsters, but the English ones I believe, I´m not sure about school clubs in the rest of the world, but in the Netherlands you will not find them I think.
page 108-109: the announcement of Games Day, OK I can understand that is relevant information.
page 110: Advertisement
page 111: Advertisement
page 112-119: Store Finder, well the most wurst less use of paper I have ever seen. I took the newest WD with me on holidays to have a look at foreign shops... FUN !! However, of the independent stockists 6 of 10 did not sell GW stuff or did not exist at all anymore. the others needed to dig in the dust somewhere behind in the store to find a blister of Gandalf....
Let´s be honest Internet provides more, better and quicker information
page 120: hmmm Can´t give an opinion on this one .... :-)
page 121: nice non informative photo
back cover: nice non informative photo.

Perhaps this will make something clear: it is NOT a good Wargaming and Hobbyist Magazine.
Maybe for the youngsters who are in the hobby for playing and not that much for the rest of the hobby, and therefore browse through the WD in "picture mode"
that´s Fine for them, they like it as it is.
But for the more experianced hobbyist used to read realy good WD´s in the past, this development of the WD is painfull.

I honestly can´t think of an advertisement brochure that you are willing to pay € 7,50 per issue.
Again, I feel so sorry for this, I have a book shelve full of old WD´s which I love to read some times.

Am I a old Humbug guy ??

[f2k]

I am not pleased with the WD at all (stopped my subscription), let me take WD393 as an example why:

[snip]

Perhaps this will make something clear: it is NOT a good Wargaming and Hobbyist Magazine.
Maybe for the youngsters who are in the hobby for playing and not that much for the rest of the hobby, and therefore browse through the WD in "picture mode"
that´s Fine for them, they like it as it is.
But for the more experianced hobbyist used to read realy good WD´s in the past, this development of the WD is painfull.

I honestly can´t think of an advertisement brochure that you are willing to pay € 7,50 per issue.
Again, I feel so sorry for this, I have a book shelve full of old WD´s which I love to read some times.

Am I a old Humbug guy ??

I agree completely with you. Particularly in regards to the ”kiddy language” they’re using. Last week I noticed that my local store had a few of the flyer-issues left so I bought one, out of simple curiosity and because I already had the ork flyer at home, waiting to be painted (not for an army, mind you, but strictly as a hobby project).

Man, the language... The full-page pictures... The two-page spreads... I felt as if I was reading a book for pre-teen kids, not a wargamming magazine.

We must always keep in mind though, that White Dwarf is not a magazine for the experienced hobbyists and hasn’t been for a long time. It’s eye-candy for the kids – nothing more.

[lbecks]

It's still not as good as Latham's editiorial run. Please bring him back.

[Wintermute]

It's still not as good as Latham's editiorial run. Please bring him back.

It doesn't matter who the editor is. What matters is the direction GW want WD to take and what function it serves. The editor then ensures these targets are met.

[lbecks]

It doesn't matter who the editor is. What matters is the direction GW want WD to take and what function it serves. The editor then ensures these targets are met.

The Latham/Latham team was great and you miss them too!

[Daniel36]

Alright, so two weeks ago I decided to throw away all my White Dwarfs, for lack of space and lack of interest in keeping them.
However, before I threw them in the bin, I cut out all the articles that were of interest to me personally, so I could still keep those.

The content I kept shouldn't surprise too many people. I will name a few:
Additional background of various armies, such as on lesser known Knightly Orders
Additional background articles such as on the Imperial School of Engineers
New scenarios
Tome of Battle, the additional rules for Storm of Magic
Scenery building articles such as the classic Abbey of La Maisontaal
The Necromunda Iron Lords campaign
The Mordheim Thy Soul to Keep campaign
Several articles on private armies, such as the Iron Hands by Christian Byrne

After I had neatly put them in plastic slips and put them together in a binder, it suddenly dawned on me.

I created pretty much the magazine the veterans so desperately yearn for!
It has all the cool stuff, without the advertising.

So... that got me thinking. I know we all discuss everything to death here, and undoubtedly some GW staff read some of it, but I am really contemplating sending Jervis Johnson a letter to let him know how I personally feel this could be a magazine that we veterans want.

Of course, they'll never make White Dwarf that which I have, but they could create an additional quarterly magazine aimed at the veteran gamers. I bet that would make so many people happy.

So... I am going to write him a letter.

[MalusCalibur]

but I am really contemplating sending Jervis Johnson a letter to let him know how I personally feel this could be a magazine that we veterans want.

Of course, they'll never make White Dwarf that which I have, but they could create an additional quarterly magazine aimed at the veteran gamers. I bet that would make so many people happy.

So... I am going to write him a letter.

I applaud the sentiment, but in reality it will go nowhere. If Jervis even reads your letter (unlikely), he has no real power to make any difference even if he wanted to. As far as GW is concerned, they wouldn't gain anything (i.e. £) from creating such a magazine. And that's all that matters to them.

[Daniel36]

I applaud the sentiment, but in reality it will go nowhere. If Jervis even reads your letter (unlikely), he has no real power to make any difference even if he wanted to. As far as GW is concerned, they wouldn't gain anything (i.e. £) from creating such a magazine. And that's all that matters to them.

Well, he wouldn't put in an address in every Standard Bearer article if he didn't want us to send any letters, and I do believe he reads letters sent to him.
And I can't agree with you on them not being able to make any money on such a magazine. Were I to create such a magazine, I would personally make it quarterly and expensive as well. This way I could print enough mags to cater to those that are interested in it, while still being able to make a profit from it.

And really, if they can make a profit with pay-to-read advertisement, they sure as heck can make a profit with a true hobby magazine.

[Commissar Merces]

I have stopped buying new white dwarves since the start of the summer (May). I recently purchased two older white dwarves (270's) due to articles about dark eldar that I hadn't purchased before since I didn't have a DE army. After comparing the 270's to the more recent magazines, I was shocked by the stark difference in material. Even though there were still a good amount of advertisements, I would say a good quarter of the older magazines, there was so much more detail in designers notes, fluff, etc. The battle reports had maps where you could follow the carnage and understand what you were looking at. Painting guides weren't just a list of paints to buy.

This is what WD has to go back to in order to get a penny out of me.

[lbecks]

I have stopped buying new white dwarves since the start of the summer (May). I recently purchased two older white dwarves (270's) due to articles about dark eldar that I hadn't purchased before since I didn't have a DE army. After comparing the 270's to the more recent magazines, I was shocked by the stark difference in material. Even though there were still a good amount of advertisements, I would say a good quarter of the older magazines, there was so much more detail in designers notes, fluff, etc. The battle reports had maps where you could follow the carnage and understand what you were looking at. Painting guides weren't just a list of paints to buy.

This is what WD has to go back to in order to get a penny out of me.

The Dark Eldar issue was probably the best issue of the last few years. Mark Latham's run overall was really good. (the last few 2010 issues say Kendrick but Latham put them in order before he was promoted) The entire Dark Eldar launch had some of the best material GW produced. From the youtube videos with Jes Goodwin, Phil Kelly, and Adam Troke to the "What's New Today" articles on the website. Jes Goodwin must just be a wellspring of enthusiasm because that was a lot of solid material on the creation of the Dark Eldar range.

Just look at the "What's New Today" from the DE launch. Sketches, commentary, WIP shots. Go back and forward from this point to the other days. Everything is covered.
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/co...?aId=13200008a

[Inquisitor Kallus]

The Latham/Latham team was great and you miss them too!

I preferred Robin Dews, Rick Priestly and Paul Sawyer to Latham

[lbecks]

Looking at the table of contents in the October thread I think i'm going to like this new WD. Hopefully they bring back EM Masterclass in future issues.

[Autumn Leaves]

It doesn't matter who the editor is. What matters is the direction GW want WD to take and what function it serves. The editor then ensures these targets are met.

That is out and out rubbish Winter.
The editor has significant input in to how the terms of his job description are met so for sure he (or she) has to achieve the company goals within the deadlines but how they get there are down to the editor and how he manipulates the team.
Fat bloke never slavishly held to party lines in a hard and fast manner.
Editorial input and guidance is critical to any magazine/periodical.
Yes the WD is primarily an advertising rag for the kiddie element GW have been pursuing for the parental disposable income for many years now, but there are still avenues that can be taken to increase the quality of the magazine for those older than 15 AND deliver on the spec from above.
Limited admittedly, especially when you take into account how many pages are handed over to out right advertisements where there is no room to move but... there is wigglespace to introduce elements into the content that will appeal to older readers as well.
That can only come from the invention, artifice and ultimately the desire of the editor.
Now... whether that editor is up to the task is another matter. Having a period of time like at least a year under their belt at a magazine like WD might be something they very much want to have on their CV, so they may well be highly unlikely to massage the boundaries of the confines of their brief until they have successfully traversed a period of time occupying the role, at least until they have that year under their belt, but after that who knows, editorial spirit could find a way to rework the stories and lift the quality of the written material in particular.

[Wintermute]

My statement is based on a conversation an associate of mine had with a former editor of WD and is not 'rubbish' as you state.

[Bad monkey]

Having worked on magazines before I gotta tell you that winter ain't talking rubbish. The owner of the mag will set the direction they want it to go, the editor then sets about getting there. Yes they do have a fair amount of input, but if the owner dosn't like it they'll get a new ed in.